Your first steps as a Get Ahead VA Regional Director
If you’ve always dreamed of starting a business and being your own boss, Get Ahead VA’s franchise opportunity could be right for you. It allows you to set up a branch of Get Ahead VA in your area, so you’ll be going into business for yourself, but with the backing of an established and successful brand.
So when you decide to become a Get Ahead VA Regional Director, where should you begin? We’ve spoken to a few of our existing RDs to find out the first steps they took when they opened up their franchise, so you can see just what it takes to get a new business off the ground.
Do the paperwork
The first stage when you become a Regional Director is to sign the contract with Get Ahead VA – which you can do as a solo entrepreneur or in partnership with someone else. After this, there are other administrative tasks that most of our RDs did early on: getting an accountant, registering an office address (separate from your home address, if that’s where you will be working) and taking out professional indemnity insurance.
Get training
Get Ahead VA offers training to all new franchisees, both in the specifics of the Get Ahead VA brand and in business techniques in general. The training takes place at the head office in Guildford and is delivered by various members of the Get Ahead team in their particular specialisms. Topics covered include computer software, public speaking, social media and practical tips for running a business. Karen and Allison, who run the Newcastle branch, said the training was “really well structured,” and it can really help a new RD get off to a flying start.
Set up social media
For Fiona, RD of Get Ahead Leeds, getting established on social media was an important first step. “I wanted to get my social presence set up before I started networking, because the first thing people will do after they meet you is look at your profile,” she says. She worked on her online profiles before starting to network, to build up her credibility and stand her in good stead for finding work right away.
Create business processes
Suzanne and Kristy, co-Regional Directors of Get Ahead Berkshire & North Hampshire, spent their first weeks getting their business processes in place. “We wanted to start as we mean to go on,” says Suzanne, so they set up databases to keep track of clients, VAs and potential contacts, and created automated systems, forms, template documents and so on. They also honed their 30-second elevator pitch in preparation for networking events, and it really paid off: “When we went to one networking event we had to issue four proposals from it!” says Suzanne.
Getting started with Get Ahead VA is a really exciting process, and you will benefit from the advice and support of all the RDs who have gone before you. If you’re interested in finding more about our franchise opportunity, or to request a copy of our free franchise prospectus, you can contact Rebecca Newenham, owner and founder of Get Ahead VA, on (01483) 332220. We’d be delighted to talk to you!